media

Question 1

mass media

Answer 1

forms of communication that transmit information, news and entertainment to mass audiences

traditionally through newspapers, magazines, radio. mass communication is now increasingly being dominated by ‘new’ forms of media.

Question 2

new media

Answer 2

the emergence of new forms of communication that have appeared in the last 25 years including: smartphone technology, laptops and digital tv

Question 3

neophiliacs

Answer 3

welcome new technology because they think it offers consumers more choice.

argue new media is good for democracy - people can monitor and criticise activities of the powerful and organise protests via social media.

Question 4

increased consumer choice
(neophiliac)

Answer 4

argue convergence and interactivity that characterise media technology have increased consumer choice. e.g. people may choose to buy music in cd form of download.

Question 5

increased consumer choice
(pluralist neophiliacs)

Answer 5

argue competition between this diversity of media will improve the quality of media output.

Question 6

e-commerce
(neophiliac)

Answer 6

claimed e-commerce trend has resulted in more choice for consumers because it increases competition - leads to lower prices and consumer control (can compare prices)

Question 7

revitalising democracy
(neophiliac)

Answer 7

new media technologies offer opportunities for people to get the education / info needed to play an active role in democratic societies - make politicians more accountable to the people.

Question 8

revitalising democracy - the internet
(neophiliac)

Answer 8

allows like-minded people to join together and take action which may lead to social change.

anti-global capitalism movement have used the Internet to challenge the power of international capitalism.

Question 9

the internet has been used in a variety of political ways:
(neophiliac)

Answer 9

• to monitor illegal/ immoral activities of big businesses
• to harness mass support for causes (make poverty history)
• coordinate protesters and activists

Question 10

cultural pessimists

Answer 10

argue new media is problematic because they are leading to cultural illiteracy, dumbing down of popular culture and the decline in community.

revolution in new media technology has been exaggerated by neophiliacs

Question 11

cultural pessimists (democratic process)

Answer 11

argues democratic potential of new media is exaggerated - such forms of media are bought up by media corporations that own older forms of media (news/tv)

Question 12

cornford and robins (1999)
(‘not so new’ media - cultural pessimist)

Answer 12

• new media is not that new
• old technology (tv, landlines) is still integral to the use of new media (game consoles)

Question 13

cornford and robins (1999)
interactivity is not something new

Answer 13

• the only thing tha’ts new about NM is speed information
• news and entertainment can be accessed in ‘real time’ e.g. 9/11

Question 14

cornford and robins (1999)
what new technologies permit

Answer 14

• the refinement, extension and embellishment of traditional media.
• suggest the relationship of new and old media as ‘being like that between an old hollywood movie and its remake’

Question 15

domination by media conglomerates (cultural pessimists)

Answer 15

• criticise the idea that new media is increasing the potential for people to participate more in the democratic process / cultural life.

Question 16

role of transnational media conglomerates
(cultural pessimists)

Answer 16

argues that the role of transnational media conglomerates in the development and control of the new media undermines the potential for media democracy

Question 17

Jenkins (2008)
(conglomertes)
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 17

• most new media has developed as a result of investment by the big media corporations.
• cross media ownership (1980s) was the first phase of media concentration / technological convergence.

Question 18

Jenkins - media domination
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 18

• owning different types of media made it more desirable for companies to develop content across a variety of platforms.
• the internet is dominated by a smaller number of corporations - e.g. microsoft developed most of the software required to access the net.

Question 19

commercialisation
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 19

The internet is now extremely commercialised.

over 10 years - major shift in internet activities from education to commercial use.
e.g. pay bills buy services (insurance) and consumer goods.

Question 20

cornford and robins commercialisation
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 20

agree that these new technologies may produce more choice for the consumer - but also dubious side effects

e.g. many companies that see products and services on the internet engage in consumer surveillance.

Question 21

consumer surveillance
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 21

technologies such as cookies monitor and process data generated by interactive media usage

so they can segment and target future audiences, thus enhance profits

Question 22

marxist view on commercialisation
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 22

grown alarmed at this commercialisation of the internet, smartphones etc.

claim it encourges materialism, consumerism and false needs, thereby furthers capitalist domination and control

Question 23

reinforcing elite power
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 23

Larger political parties/corporations have more money to spend on advertising to keep their biased information at the top of internet search engines.

Surveillance – the British security services had the technology to access the information stored on people’s smartphones.

Question 24

cornford and robins - reinforcing elite power
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 24

were sceptical that new media will lead to a more democratic communications structure bringing about a new political and social order.

they note through (alliances, mergers, takeovers) media corporations seek to monopolise key strategic links within the new media.

Question 25

Jenkins - reinforcing elite power
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 25

notes that not all the participants in the media are created equal.

corporations still exert greater power than any individual consumer or even groups of consumers.

Question 26

decline in the quality of popular culture
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 26

argued that increased choice of media delivery systems has led to a decline in popular culture.

increased number of channels has led to the dumbing down of popular culture - tv companies fill these channels with cheap imported material, gambling, film repeats

Question 27

Harvey (2008) - popular culture
(cultural pessimist)

Answer 27

tv culture transmits a ‘candy floss culture’

argued ITV and BBC have experienced ‘tabloidisation’ due to competition - allegedly resulted in a decline in documentaries and news coverage and increase in reality tv